Manitoba Tories stand by candidate who pleaded guilty to professional misconduct

Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives are standing by their candidate for Tyndall Park, Dr. Naseer Warraich, who pleaded guilty to professional misconduct almost 10 years ago.

Tories named Warraichas its newest candidate on Tuesday, with PC Leader Brian Pallister saying the longtime KeewatinMedical Centrephysician"adds leadership with his many years of professional experience and community service."

In 2006, Warraich's medical licence was suspended for two months after he pleaded guilty to signing off on thousands of internet pharmacy prescriptions for American seniors he had not seen in person.

He also admitted to making false or misleading statements to disciplinary investigators from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.

When CBC News asked Warraich about the misconduct charges in 2011, when he was running for the PCs in the Concordia constituency, he responded, "I was helping the senior, poor people."

• VIDEO | Controversial PC candidate (Sept. 15, 2011)

In a statement to CBC News sent Wednesday, theProgressive Conservativessaid Warraich "co-operated fully with the college and admitted to his mistake in 2006."

Warraich is currently a licensed physician, said the Tories, who added that he has served in the military and done extensive charity work.

Health minister questions Tories' choice

On Tuesday, Health Minister Sharon Blady said Manitobans should be concerned about Warraich's track record, adding that the doctorhas not taken responsibility for his actions.

"It calls into question Brian Pallister's judgment and, more importantly, his values. I mean, are these really the kind of actions that he thinks Manitobans find acceptable?" Blady said.

"He hasn't, you know, apologized. He hasn't done anything and those past actions are the best indicators to future behaviour, both for him and for his leaders."

The Progressive Conservatives responded on Wednesday by calling the NDP government'strack record into question.

"At the doorsteps, we think [Warraich's] experience and how he handled all this stands in direct contrast to the NDP," the party's statement reads in part.

"They promised not to raise the PST, then turned around and did it. They promised to hold a referendum on that issue and didn't. They give taxpayers' money away to friends with no public tendering. And all of these ethical breaches come with no apology, no admission of guilt, no shame. We stand by Dr. Warraich."

'I'm going to take the seat,' saysWarraich

Warraich said he will not comment any further on his past professional misconduct, saying he is focused on winning Tyndall Park in next spring's provincial election.

"I'm going to take the seat. I'm going to win and [the] NDP is going to lose their seat," he said.

"That's all I want to say. Next government will be the PC government, and I will be winning the seat."

It's not the first time the Tories' choice of candidate was questioned. The partypicked up Kaur Sidhu, a pharmacist and former New Democrat, as its candidate in The Maples earlier this year.

• Conservatives pick former NDPer Kaur Sidhu for Maples in 2016 election

Sidhuhad beenfined by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association in 2012 for transferring prescriptions from his former pharmacy to his new one.

Sidhu told CBC Newsin May that he has learned from his mistakes and believes people will give him a second chance.

Manitobans will go to the polls in the next provincial election on April 19, 2016.